Rare groove is defined as very hard to source or relatively obscure soul or jazz music.[1] Rare groove is primarily associated with funk, jazz and pop, but is also connected to sub-genres including jazz fusion, Latin jazz, soul, R&B, northern soul, and disco.[2] Vinyl records that fall into this category generally have high re-sale prices. Rare groove records have been sought after by not only collectors and lovers of this type of music, but also by hip hop artists and producers.[3] Online music retailers sell a wide selection of rare groove at more affordable prices, offering fast downloads in digital format.[4] This availability and ease of access has brought about a resurgence of the genre in recent years.[4]
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The term was coined by British DJ Norman Jay[5] after his "The Original Rare Groove Show" on pirate radio station Kiss 94 FM (the progenitor of Kiss 100 London).[6] The show was a collaboration with DJ Judge Jules and featured a mainly urban soundtrack from the 70's and 80's mixed with early house music.[6]
The rare groove scene began when DJs presented an eclectic mix of music that placed a particular emphasis on politically articulate dance-funk recordings connected to the Black Power movement.[7] Pirate radio stations and DJs participated in a "recovery, repackaging and retrieval" of obscure music that reflected, related to or translated inequalities of race and gender and the struggles of the civil rights movement. Music that had failed to gained acceptance in a previous time was given a "new lease of life" by DJs on pirate radio stations. Rare groove also provided a musical space where the 'symbolic capitol' of the music became very important.[8]
Sampling is one of the biggest aspects of hip hop and rap, and these types of records provide breaks for artists to use in their songs.[9] Examples of rare groove samples, such as Eazy E's "Eazy Duz It" (which samples The Detroit Emeralds, Bootsy Collins, Funkadelic, Isley Brothers, Sly & the Family Stone, The Temptations and even Richard Pryor), can be found in modern hip hop and drum and bass. After the collapse of funk influenced disco, many musicians who had made a name for themselves under disco's mainstream success had the spotlight taken away from them. Many of these artists have had their songs remixed and remastered by house music artists. Much of the obscure music "rediscovered" as samples in newer house or hip hop tracks is labeled "rare groove" retroactively.[4]